A/N : This chapter took a lot longer than I had ever intended! I've just been unsure if I should continue or not. I had a completely different plot in mind but that's changed now as it felt way too rushed and like it would end it too soon . Gah! Let me know what you think! And thank you all again SOO much for all the amazing support and comments! I love you all!

Chapter Twenty Five - Sincere Apologies

The hospital doors swung open for the fifth time. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't bring myself to move. Why was I even there? What was I trying to prove? How truly sorry I was? I didn't even know. I bit my lip and frowned, shuffling my feet a bit. I watched as people moved in and out swiftly, some smiling, some looking like they were ready to cry.

After what happened the last time I was there, I think some of my fear came into play from that. But really, it was then or never. I had been back in Philadelphia for two days; I at least owed Harley one last visit.

Taking a deep breath, I finally inched forward, and before I knew it, I was inside and stood in front of the reception desk, having the same sweet lady that was there last time smile back at me. "Hi," I said softly. "I'm here to see Harley Kiener." I told her.

She looked through a few papers and then smiled up at me again. "Of course. He's still in the same room. Go right ahead."

I chewed on my thumb nail. "Um," I nearly choked out. "Has he woken up yet?"

She smiled at me again. "I have no idea Hun, you'd have to ask the doctor. He seems to be doing okay."

"Okay," I practically whispered.

Hesitantly, I gave her one last look and then made my way down the hallway. Everything was so familiar yet so different at the same time. I took my time, taking in my surroundings as if I had never been there before and again, before I knew it, I was standing outside of his door, staring in the cold looking room, my eyes locked onto his still body. I pulled at my thumb nail and bit the skin off of my bottom lip. After I looked around, I took a deep breath and took my first step in, as if expecting to erupt in flames the moment I did. This wasn't a church, and I wasn't a satan worshipping witch. It was just a hospital room. And he was just Harley Kiener.

So, why was I so afraid? Why did my heart feel like it was going to explode?

I got to his bed side and stood there, staring down at him. The bandaid that had been wrapped around his head the previous time I had been there, was still tightly and securely there, except it was fresh and looked like it had just been changed moments prior. I could barely see any of his dark hair, that normally would have been gelled back, and his skin was as white as his sheets. His eyelids quickly twitched back and fourth, signaling he was either dreaming or in a deep enough slumber that not even the sandman himself could wake him up even if he wanted to. I hesitantly put my hand on his. Despite his complexion, he was so warm, which at least was a good sign. I held onto his thumb and rubbed mine along the back of his hand with my own.

"I'm not very good at this," I whispered.

He didn't budge.

"I," I started, looking around his room. It was so plain. The walls were eggshell white, the curtains, which were closed, were a light blue and besides some of the machines he was hooked up to, there was a wooden table and a small end table. There was no flowers, no gifts, not even a get well card in sight. My heart was no longer racing, it was heavy with sadness. "I'm so sorry that you're in here. I know it's my fault," I continued. "And I swear to you, if I could change all of this, I would. I don't even know why I'm here. I know this doesn't make a difference and I know it won't change anything, but I need you to know how truly sorry I am." I told him as if he were listening. "Please, Harley, wake up. Please."

Still nothing.

His breathing was slow and labored, but all of his vitals looked good. I closed my eyes as they begin to brim with hot tears. His hand twitched beneath mine but I hardly noticed. I kept my eyes shut and did something I never thought I would before. I prayed, and I prayed hard. I prayed that he would make a 110 % recovery, and that he would wake up soon. No hospital bed was a place for Harley Kiener. He was an obnoxious jerk but he didn't deserve this. No one did. And if that was the case, it was me that should have been there. Not him. Not anyone else. Me. And just me alone.

I was so entranced with my own thoughts and prayers that I didn't hear the doctor come in. Until he spoke that is. "Nice to see you again, Sarah. I wasn't sure we would."

I jumped and whirled around. It was Dr. Kay. Thank The Lord for familiar, kind, faces. "I, uh, I got moved away for a few weeks but I'm back now. And I'm not going anywhere again." I tried to say confidently.

He smiled warmly. "Good to hear," he did his usual check on his metal clipboard, checked Harley and his vitals over and then stood in front of the door, jotting notes down.

"Dr. Kay?" I nearly whispered.

"Yes?" He looked up at me.

"Has he woken up yet? Even just for a few seconds?"

Dr. Kay gave me the best smile he could. "I'm afraid not." he said. "But I'm just as confident as I was before. Mr. Kiener will be just fine."

"You promise?"

"I wouldn't be a doctor if I didn't know what I was talking about," he joked. "I promise, sweetie. He's going to be A okay."

And at that, he was gone from the room just as fast as he appeared in it. I sighed and returned back to Harley. "You're excellent at proving people wrong. Prove me wrong, Harley. Be fine. Wake up. I've never begged anyone in my life; but I'm begging you now. Please. Please." I practically cried.

A few minutes passed and I didn't move. It was almost as if I expected my cries and desperate pleas to wake him up. But this wasn't a movie; this wasn't a novel, it was reality. And the reality was, he was in that awful bed because of me. No matter how much I wished it to be untrue and to be over. It wasn't. It wasn't even close to being so.

I placed my hand over Harley's once more, squeezed it and then turned, ready to go back home and wish it untrue some more; to wish me in his place instead for the millionth time.

That was until his grip tightened over mine and stopped me. I whipped back around and watched as his eyes slowly and painfully opened. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the light, but when they did, he looked right at me, the confusion clear on his face.

"Sarah?" He groaned out. "What's going on?" Slowly craning his neck, he looked around. "Where am I?"

Wide eyed, I stared at him almost as if he were right out of a horror movie. I was frozen in place. As was my vocal cords and heart.

"Sarah?" He groaned out again, looking back towards me.

I choked back the lump in my throat, finding it impossible to blink, to stop looking like a deer caught in head lights. "You're in the hospital.." I practically whispered. "And you're here because of me."

Harley's dark eyebrows knitted together. "What do you mean?"

"You've been here for close to a month... Do you remember anything?"

Harley's eyes closed and he shook his head lightly and regrettably. Wincing, his eyes opened again. "Not much." He said. "I remember talking with you, seeing a big flash, and the next thing I know, I'm here in this uncomfortable bed, feelin' like I'm hung over."

I let out a sigh. "I lead you there on purpose," I started, my voice breaking, close to a whisper. "And I did it to hurt you."

Harley frowned. "What are you talking about, Sarah?"

"I didn't mean for you to end up here. Your pride was supposed to be hurt, that was it." I continued. He watched me intensely, waiting for me to finish. "Shawn and I had a plan. We were going to get you out there, and I was going to make you believe that I liked you, so that you would kiss me. Except before you did, I switched places with Sally Gillman." Tears stung at my eyes. I knew that wasn't the time to break though. Harley deserved better than that. He deserved a proper explanation. "Shawn was waiting close by with a camera... We were going to use the picture as black mail to stop bullying everyone. Harley, I'm so sorry. You weren't meant to end up here."

Harley's frown turned into a surprised expression. He was silent for a few minutes. I just stood there staring at him, my ears desperate for a response. "Harley.."

"Don't." He finally spoke. "You know the really sad thing about all of this is?" Harley didn't even give me time to answer. "I actually did like you. And all you had to do was ask, and I would have. I'm not so good with emotions, and I take my anger out on people I know are better than me, but I ain't completely heartless, you know."

"You seem to forget what you did to me in the hallways at school," my defenses were suddenly rising. "Do you not remember? Eric just so happened to be around and came to my aid. Remember?" It sounded more like a plead than I had intended.

"Yes, Sarah. I remember. I was stupid. But I wouldn't have hurt you. I wouldn't have put you where you put me."

I took in a shaky breath. "Look, Harley. I came here to tell you what actually happened, before you heard it from anyone else. I had every intention of being here every day until you woke up. I came here to tell you how truly sorry I am."

"Yeah, what stopped you?"

"My aunt shipped me back to Pittsburgh after she found out. I've only been back for a few days. I couldn't bring myself to come. Im sorry, Harley. You have to believe me."

Harley shifted in his bed so that he was sitting up more, the pain evident on his face. "And why the hell should I? My thoughts aren't exactly clear right now, but I ain't brain dead."

"Because it was never supposed to happen. I take full responsibility. It was all my fault. I just need you to know how truly sorry I am."

Harley had barely made eye contact with me since I told him, but now he was looking straight at me, his dark eyes nearly burning a large hole into me. "Is that all?"

My lip quivered, and I bit it to stop it from doing so. "Yes." I whispered.

"You can leave now."

I didn't want to, but after everything, I had ever intention of following his wishes. "Okay." I turned around, shutting my eyes tight. "I really am sorry. I've never been so sorry in my life. I just wanted you to know."

And before I knew it, I was out of the hospital and rushing down the street. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew where ever it was; it was going to be better than there.

I somehow ended up at Chubbie's, the familiar smell of grease welcoming me. The sound of other kids my age laughing and chatting it up the way they always did. I didn't know what it was about it, but Chubbie's was a wonderful escape; a safe haven from mine, or anyone's problems for that matter. I just genuinely enjoyed being there.

I got to the counter, and without even having to say a word, Chubby nodded at me, pointed to Kara and within 15 minutes, my food was ready. I supposed it was easier for them when people's orders never changed. I didn't even sit. I just waited. I needed an escape. And this place was my insuring way of it.

"Nice to see you around here again, doll face." Kara said, chewing her gum like always, and then she handed me the tray, happily as ever.

I handed her a ten. "It's good to be back, Kara. Thank you."

Kara disappeared and I couldn't help but smile. She really was a sweet girl. What I would have given to be happy like that all the time. It was nice to see, but seemed tiring to keep up. I turned to go to the booth I usually sat at and collided with the person standing behind me, my tray tipping to the side, my fries and shake going everywhere, my burger falling apart. I gasped and frowned.

"Jesus!"

"I am so sorry," he said, quickly bending down and picking up handfuls of my dirty fries like they were able to be salvaged. "Totally my fault." Brushing his hands off on his pants, he looked around nervously. "Uh, let me buy you something new?" He offered.

I glared at him, and placed my then empty tray on a near by table that luckily wasn't occupied. "I'm fine, thanks." I looked around and grabbed a bunch of napkins, quick to wipe my pants clean from the shake he had carelessly made me spill everywhere.

"I'm really sorry." He ran a hand nervously through his brown hair after he wiped them clean from the salt of which made itself welcome all over them. I didn't really look at him long, but from what I did see, he looked strangely familiar. I couldn't quite place it, but really, I was too annoyed to try. "I'm Jack. Jack Hunter. What's your name?"

I slowly looked up at him, the damp napkins still at hand. No wonder he looked familiar. He was related to Shawn. He had to have been. And not just because he was a Hunter; but because they had similar traits.

This was about to get interesting.